Education Matters

NOW that children have settled in to the new year, schools start hosting parent teacher meetings.

The idea is for parents and teachers to get to know each other and to set learning targets for the terms ahead based on the first few weeks work and initial diagnostic assessments … but the unwritten objective of these meetings is to build a spirit of trust.

Unwittingly, teachers become a ‘family member’ of all of the children in their class, such is the impact they will have on their everyday lives.

Undoubtedly teachers will be the topic of conversations around the dinner table or will feature in class WhatsApp topics and so the trust that they build and the image they portray when meeting with parents is extremely important.

I’ve seen teachers make erroneous judgements before meeting families that taint proceedings before the meeting has begun and this can be a very dangerous precedent to set.

As teachers, you only see a snapshot of a child’s life. There may be a multitude of reasons why children don’t do homework, behave inappropriately in class or arrive late to school and it isn’t a teacher’s job to judge, it is a teacher’s job to support and, where possible, help.

The other factor to consider is the parent’s views and interpretations. Some parents may be nervous about coming to school as it can be quite a formal environment. Similarly, they also might be embarrassed, shy or defensive, emotions which can all be exacerbated by a poor parent / teacher meeting and if not handled professionally can also set the tone for the entire year ahead.

Obviously, as a teacher, you should be courteous, polite and welcoming. You should always start with positive comments highlighting what students do well before moving on to areas that need to be addressed.

When broaching these subjects you should avoid negative words and request help from the parents to overcome issues and, at times, even ask for their advice as they know much more about their child than anyone-else.

Effective parental communication and the spirit of trust it can foster is an important tool and one that should never be underestimated since when parents and teachers act as a team, the impact on children can be enormous.